The Dead Sea Is Slowly Dying…

27June 2014

Research and analysis show that many of these natural beauties will vanish in the near future owing to different man-made and natural calamities that cause environmental and ecological imbalance. One such treasured place, on the verge of disappearance, is the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is "dead" because its extreme salinity means nothing lives in it. But it will very soon be even more "dead," because it is evaporating at a rate of around a meter (three feet) per year. The Dead Sea or the Sea of Death is a salt lake bordered by Jordan on the east and Israel on the west. It is the lowest place on Earth, at a depth of about 429 meters (1,407 ft) below sea level.

It is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. The Dead Sea is 9.6 times as salty as the ocean and hence it doesn’t support any flora or fauna. Since Herod, the Great, Dead Sea has been attracting tourists seeking treatments for more than 2,000 years. It is said that the Dead Sea provides a cure for respiratory diseases, psoriasis, rhinosinusitis, sinusitis and osteoarthritis of the knees.

But unfortunately, the Dead Sea is slowly dying. The mismanagement of water resources has resulted in gaping craters, some that could swallow an eight-story building. It is estimated that the Dead Sea’s water level has dropped by more than 131ft since the 1950s. Not enough water is entering the sea from river Jordan due to the increased consumption of water for agricultural and industrial activities.

Lack of water is manifested in the form exposed sinkholes, cracked mud flats, damaged plants and even a derelict water park. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind salt remains which dissolve in freshwater or rainwater creating cavities underground that are collapsing. These cavities are so threatening that it can even take the lives of tourists.

If nothing is done then this unique area will surely be destroyed. There will be no Dead Sea by 2050. Even the remains of Sodom and Gomorrah would soon be visible. Hence it is the need of the hour that Jordan, Israel, Palestine and the World community comes together to an agreement to change the ecological imbalance around Dead Sea and take measures to restore this treasured beauty on mother Earth…

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